Braintree

Braintree's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 150,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Braintree increased by 11%, from just over 132,000 to 147,000.

The addition of just under 15,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Braintree was home to, on average, 1.7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Braintree

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Braintree increased by three years, from 38 to 41 years.

This rural area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 6,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 12% of people in Braintree are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Braintree by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Braintree

The percentage of Braintree residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.5% to 3.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The proportion who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.9%, while the percentage of Braintree residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Braintree

The number of people in Braintree that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 22,000 in 2001 to just over 44,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 30% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Braintree that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 98,000 in 2001 to just over 90,000 in 2011 (from 74% to 61%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation remained close to 10,000 (7.1%)

About 690 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 410 in 2001 (0.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Braintree increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Braintree by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Braintree at a faster rate than in nearby Uttlesford.

In Braintree, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.7% in 2001 to 13% in 2011. During the same period, the

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Braintree fell from 19% to 16%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 72% to 69%.

Private renting in Braintree increased by 6.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Braintree, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Braintree working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Braintree decreased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Braintree, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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